Monday, July 30, 2007 DTI sees rise in demand for banana chips By Joy Romares-Sevilla
TRADE Assistant Secretary Merly M. Cruz reported Friday that with the banana chips promotions program in schools in the Davao Region, DTI will not only provide alternative food that is nutritious to the students but will also help in the expansion of the banana market locally.
"Banana is the biggest industry in the region and with the banana chips promotions program in schools, we can contribute to the expansion of banana market," she said.
"We are also consistent in the banana chips export. Seventy percent of the country's total export is from the banana industry. Japan has not gotten tired of buying banana from us, maybe they have realized how nutritious banana is," Cruz added.
Cruz revealed that last year's exports of banana chips from the Davao port alone reached US$ 24.77 million, higher than the figure in 2005.
She said the total export of banana chips from the Davao port in 2005 was only recorded at US$18.72 million. The total export figures last year were 32.2 percent higher than the figure in the 2005.
However, despite the increasing trend in exports, local demand for the product has been stagnant over the years even as its popularity is growing in foreign markets such as Europe, US, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and China.
Weak local demand shows the need to consolidate government and private efforts at promoting the product in the domestic market.
Thus, DTI has taken the initiative of promoting banana chips in schools in Davao Region.
DTI, with its cooperators Department of Education 11, Commission on Higher Education 11, Department of Health 11, and the National Nutrition Council, launched banana chips as a nutritious food snacks for the students in all public elementary and secondary schools.
At least eight high schools in the region attended the launching.
These are the Enrico Nograles National High School, the F. Bangoy National High School, Sta. Ana National High School, Bustamante National High School, Ma-a National High School, Leon Garcia Sr. National High School, Davao City National High School, and the Tagum City National High School.
